TWO BASIC PHILOSOPHICAL

SYSTEMS
DEONTOLOGICAL
- For deontologists, it doesn't matter if the
consequences turn out bad, since all that matters is
the principle of the thing.
TELEOLOGICAL
- Teleologists are usually guided by the precedent or
example that something sets.

DEONTOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
something is moral not because of its consequences,
but is moral because the motive or intent is "good.
The clearest example of a deontological ethical system
is FORMALISM, developed by the famous philosopher-ofphilosophers, Immanuel Kant (1724-1804).

FORMALISM
Kant's approach to ethics begins with an analysis of
"ulterior motives.
Kant then proceeds to analyze the acts of so-called
"Good Samaritans" to see why they do good things for
complete strangers.
"Under what circumstances will people sincerely do
good with no expectation of benefit?"

FORMALISM
Morality is not based onhypothetical imperatives but
rather on acategorical imperative.
A categorical imperative is something that "commands"
action without reference to any purpose or consequence.
The leading criticism of Kant's ethical formalism is that it
doesn't tell you what to do in cases where there is a
clear-cut "conflict of duties."

KANTS CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE

Act only on that maxim through which you can at the
same time will that it should become a universal law.
Act in such a way that you always treat humanity,
including yourself and others, as an end in itself, and
never as a means to an end.
Act as if you were a law-making member of a kingdom
of ends.

REFERENCES
http://www.drtomoconnor.com/3300/3300lect01a.htm
http://philosophy.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/Notes/ethics3a.htm
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